Collapsible step-ladder.



G. H. A KOHLER.

COLLAPSIBLE STEP LADDER.

APPLlCATlON FILED JULY 10, 1917.

1 ,267,670. Patented May 28, 1918.

2 SHEETSSHEET 1.

G. H. A. KOHLER.

COLLAPSIBLE STEP LADDER.

APPLICATION FILED JULYH). 1917.

Patented May 28,1918.

2 SHEETS-SHEET Z1 INVENTOR- BY 21 W52 I a ATTORNEY/5 rrnn star 3 PATENT @FFTQE.

GEORGE H. A. KOHLER, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR TO TUCKA'WAY FOLDING LADDER COMPANY, INC., A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

GOLLAPSIIBLE STEP-LADDER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 28, 1918.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE H. A. KOHLER, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of the borough of Bronx, city, county, and State of New York, have invented certai new and useful Improvements in Collapsible Step-Ladders, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in ladders and has for its object the production of a collapsible step-ladder which can be folded into an extremely small compass and which possesses unusual strength and rigidity when in an operative position, but is neither complicated nor expensive to manufacture. I

The invention is fully set forth and described in detail in the following specification and drawings forming a part thereof in which;

Figure 1 is a front elevation, partially broken away, showing the ladder closed;

Fig. 2 is an end elevation showing the ladder closed;

Fig. 3 is a similar view showing the ladder opened;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary top plan view of a single step;

Fig. 5 is a bottom plan view of the same;

Fig. 6 is a rear elevation of the rear legs, closed;

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary end elevation, of the ladder when opened, showing means for locking the spreader;

Fig. 8 is a front perspective view of upper portion of ladder when open;

Fig. 9 is a similar view of lower portion of the ladder;

Fig. 10 i a fragmentary rear elevation corresponding to Fig. 6 with the ladder open, showing position of the cross braces. Referring to the drawings and the construction shown therein the reference numeral 1 designates the uprights of the main ladder structure and 2 the rear legs of the ladder. The said uprights are secured by means of connecting straps or plates 3, which are provided with inturned ends 4, to cross pieces 5. Preferably said plates which envelop said cross pieces are secured thereto by means of pins 6, which extend completely through said cross pieces and are riveted at each of their ends. As shown said straps 3 project upwardly from the top of said uprights a suflicient distance to serve as an efiicient support for the cross pieces 5 which fit therebetween. Normally said cross pieces when the ladder is in the collapsed position shown in Fig. 1, rest on the tops of said uprights but when the ladder is in the open position as shown in Fig. 3, the outer transverse top edges (4 only of said uprights bear against said cross pieces 5. The rear legs are also provided at their top ends with angular straps 7 having inturned ends adapted to embrace said legs similar to the ends i, above described. These straps are secured by means of pins 8 and 9, the ends of which are riveted to the upper ends of said legs and to the upper ends of the rear uprights, said straps being adapted to receive between them the cross pieces 5 through which the pins 9 extend.

The uprights l are provided with steps which are formed of two hinged leaves 10 and 10 respectively, and these leaves are pivotally mounted by means of straps 11 on U-shaped rods 12, the ends of which rods are anchored in the uprights 1 at points where the same are reinforced by means of bands 13. Preferably as shown the inturned ends of the rods I2 extend through the said uprights substantially to one side of the center as shown in Fig. 7, whereby the substantial weakening of such uprights is avoided. A pair of slidable braces 14 are pivotally secured to each of said leaves, one of said braces encircling a. front and the other a rear upright at their respective lower ends. Stop pins 15 are provided at the inner faces of the uprights 1 so as to limit the downward movement of the lower ends of the braces and as shown said pins are so positioned that the central portion of each of the steps will be rigidly supported by said braces 14 in a horizontal position when the ladder is in the open position shown in Fig. 8.

The cross pieces 5 are adapted'to rest on the upper ends of the rear legs 2 when the ladder is in the open position shown in Fig. 3 and in such position the cross pieces 5 are horizontal. Accordingly the spreading of the rear legs into the position shown in Fig. 3 results in maintaining the front and rear uprights in parallel relation, and as a consequence the steps will not only be horizontal in the position shown in Fig. 2

when the rear legs are in a folded position but also when the rear legs are spread as above stated.

Spreaders 16 are pivotally secured at one end by means of pins 1'? to the rear uprights of the ladder and at their opposite ends they are pirotally secured to loose fitting collars 18 which are slidably mounted on the rear legs or the ladder. A spring catch 19 serves to hold the spreaders in a substantially horizontal position when the ladder is in the open position shown in Fi 7, but on man" ually depressing said catch the collar 18 may be moved into the position shown in Fig. whereby said legs are snugly folded against the rear uprights of the ladder. Qrossbraces 20 are pivotally secured to said collars 18 at one end and at their opposite end to collars 21, the latter being limited in their downward movement by means of stop pins '22, so that when the ladder is in the position shown in Fig. 7 said cross-braces will be in the position shown in Fig. 10

When it is desired to fold up the ladder catch 19 is depressed, as above stated, rear legs are folded in the position 1061. in Fig. the collar 18 assuming the osition therein shown. In this position e leaves l0, 10. will still be horizontal.

lbs ladder is now folded in a direction at -'lgllil angles to the aforesaid folding move nent and the leaves of the steps will then resume the positions shown in Figs. 1 and 2, while the two front uprights will be in close proximity to each other as shown in Fig 1.

The foregoing ladder may be constructed of white wood, oak, or other suitable wood, or of metal, or of any other desired material, but preferably l construct the uprights and rear legs of oak and provide metal straps and reinforcing bands as previouslystated. 51 nch a construction is suiliciently strong for all ordinary purposes, while at the same time it is extremely economical. to menu factors.

This ladder is particularly adapted for use in apartments and under similar conditions where economy of space is important, but it is so strong that it can be used in all cases as a substitute for a noncollapsible step-ladder.

Having thus described my invention, what 1 claim and desire to secure by Let ters Patent is:

1. in a collapsible stepdadder, "he coinbii'iation comprising two pairs of lateral up- W noes/pro rights, a plurality oi folding steps having a central hinge and pivotally supported between the uprights, horizontal crossbars pivotally connected to the front and rear uprights of each pair adjacent the top-ends thereof, pair of rear le s for supporting the ladder in a self-supporting position, said rear legs being pivot-ally secured to said cross-bars and to said rear uprights of each lateral pair at spaced points, so as to provide a lever arm between said points, two pairs of slidable braces the upper ends of each pair being pivotally secured to said steps adjacentvthe center thereof and the lower ends being slidably secured to the respective pairs of lateral uprights, and stops for limiting the downward movement of said braces.

2. In a collapsible step-ladder, the combination comprising two pairs of lateral uprights, a plurality of cross-rods each having inturued ends which project at substantially right angles to their axes and forming integral pintles which extend through and pivotal y en age the respective members of each pairoi uprights substantially to one side (if thoccnter of each upright, a plurality or central,y-hinged folding steps, each steo being of greater width than a single upright and b pivotally secured at its respective outer ends to opposing cross-rods connecting the respective members of each pair of uprights.

3. In collapsible step-ladder, the coinbi ation comprising two pairs or lateral uprights a corresponding series of reinforcing metal bands substantially enveloping and being spaced at intervals along eachupright of each pair, a plurality of cross rods each having inturned ends which respectively project completely-through a different member of each pair of said bands and extend to one side of the center of the upright carrying said band, said inturned ends of such cross rods forming integral pintles adapted to pivot in. the upright engaged thereby, a plurality of centrally-hinged folding steps, each step being or greater width than a single upright and being pivotally secured. at its respective outer ends to opposing cross-rods connecting the re- .;pective members of each pair of uprights.

Signed at New York, in the county of New York and State of New York, this 9th day of uly, 191T.

GEORGE H. A. KOHLER.

Copies of this extent ma be obtained for five cents each, t addreseiiz the Goinniissioner of Patents J a: I

Washington, 3'). =3. 

